Regulator for underwater breathing apparatus



Sept. 8, 1964 l s. G. LEcocQ REGULATOR'FOR UNDERWATER BREATHINGAPPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1961 .gef

United States Patent O 3,147,761 REGULATR FR UNDERWATER BREATIHNGAPPARATUS Samuel G. Lecocq, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Sportsways,luc., Paramount, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 19,1961, Ser. No. 160,515 1 Claim. (Cl. 137-453) The present inventionrelates generally to underwater breathing apparatus, and is morepanticularly concerned with unitized apparatus for regulating thedelivery of a breathable fluid from a bottled or other pressurized fluidsource, and which includes a lreserve valve.

It is an object of the herein described invention to provide in a singlehousing an improved unitary rst stage regulator in combination with areserve valve mechanism, which is mountable at the bottle source and hasa single hose air delivery connection; and which incorporates optionalconnections for use with a surface air supply, pressure gauge, safetyrelief and auxiliary devices generally.

A further object is to provide a unitary first stage regulator device inwhich the pressure regulating means yand associated reserve valvemechanism are contained within a housing having an integrally formedattaching yoke which extends laterally at a right angle to thelongitudinal axis of the housing, the regulating means having a fluidsupply inlet connection within the confines of the yoke, the inletconnection being under control of the reserve valve mechanism.

Still another object is to provide combined regulator and reserve valveunit of the character described having a fluid receiving connector whichmay be connected with a surface air supply source.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the followingpart of the specification, wherein detailed description is for thepurpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitationsthereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrativepurposes only:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a regulator and reserve valve unitaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view including a transverse section through the housingof the unit, taken substantially on line 2 2 of FIG. l; and

FIG.3 isl a longitudinal section through the housing of the regulatorportion of the unit, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 todisclose the operative relationship of the pressure regulating mechanismtherein.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposesthe regulator mechanism of the present unit is shown as comprisinggenerally a body structure lll of Z-part construction, one of theseparts including a generally cylindrical portion 11 which is integrallyformed with a tapering end portion 11a extending from one side.Extending from the other side of the cylindrical portion is acylindrical end portion 11b. The body structure as thus described housesthe pressure regulating means which in this case constitute the rststage of pressure reduction. The cylindrical portion 11 and theassociated end portions 11a and 11b are in axial alignment and cooperateto form an elongate housing.

The unit is arranged to be removably attached to suitable connectorsassociated with the bottle for pressurized breathable fluid by means ofa yoke member 12 which is integrally formed with the cylindrical portion11 of the body structure and projects at a right angle to thelongitudinal axis of the body structure 1), the yoke providing anopening 13 for receiving the bottle connector (not shown) therein. Amanually operable yoke "Ice screw 14 permits connection of the regulatorunit with the bottle connector.

Internally, Vthe body structure is provided within the cylindricalportion 11 with a transverse wall 15 which forms a separating partitionbetween a chamber 16 within the end portion 11a, and a chamber 17cooperatively formed by the cylindrical portions 11 and 11b.

Communication between the chamber 16 and chamber 17 is provided by meansof a plurality of passageways 18 formed in the wall 15 and extendingbetween the adjacent ends of the chambers. A transversely extendingpassageway 19 connects with one or more of the passageways 18 and hasits ends communicating with axially aligned connection ports 20 and 21.The connection port 20 provides a connection for a single hose 22 bywhich fluid may be delivered to a regulator second stage. The connectionport 21 is in communication through a passageway 22' with a connectionport 23 located on the same side and adjacent to the connection port 20.The ports 21 and 23 are adapted to optionally receive a closure plug 24or a relief valve 26 as will be described subsequently. When the reliefvalve is mounted in the port 23, the port 21 is free for connection witha surface air supply which may be delivered directly to the hose 22, orconnection to other auxiliary devices.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection port 23 is closed by the plug 24while the connection port 21 is shown as being connected with a safetyrelief valve assembly as generally indicated at 26. The relief valveincludes' a tubular valve body 27 which is provided at one end with amulti-sided head portion 28, and at its other end with a restricted flowpassage 29. The valve body is adapted to be threadedly mounted withinthe connection port 21. Housed within the valve body is a valve member30 which is supported for axial movement within the valve body. Thevalve member carries a valve disc insert 31 having valving relation withthe adjacent end of the flow passage 29. The valve member is biasedtowards seated position by means of a compression spring 32, one end ofthis spring bearing against the valve member, and the other end of thespring bearing against an adjustable i bushing 33 threadedly mountedwithin the head portion 28 and having a discharge passage 34 therein.The safety relief valve is designed to open at approximately to 200pounds pressure.

The chamber 16 houses the high pressure valve mechanism for controllingthe high pressure fluid received into the chamber through a passageway35 which connects the chamber with a fluid inlet port 36 containing alter 37. The inlet port 36 is contained within the yoke 12 wherein it isremovably connected with the source of bottled fluid.

The inner end of the chamber 16 is tted with an annular valve seat 38which is peripherally sealed by a sealing ring 39 and contains a centralaxial flow passage 40. The discharge end of the passage 40 communicateswith one or more of the passageways 18 while the inlet end thereof is invalving relation with an annular valve disc 41 carried by a reciprocablymounted valve 42, this valve having peripheral flow passages 43extending longitudinally of its outer surface. The valve 42 is biasedtowards a seating position by means of a compression valve spring 44having one end bearing against the valve and its other bearing against aclosure plug 44 having threaded engagement with the tapering end portion11a at the outermost end of theV chamber 16.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 17 is provided with atransversely extending diaphragm Vl5 of llexible material, thisdiaphragm having its peripheral margin clampingly engaged between ashoulder in the body structure and the innermost end of the cylindricalportion 11b.

The diaphragm centrally carries a plate member 46 which is positioned onone side of the diaphragm and is provided with a central stem 47 adaptedto extend through the diaphragm and coact with a retaining nut 48 tosecure a washer 49 in clamping relation with the plate member 46.

The diaphragm separates the chamber 17 into an inner compartment 17a,and an outer compartment 17b. The compartment 17a is in communicationwith passageways llS and subject the associated side of the diaphragm 45t fluid pressure existing within the passageway 19. The compartment l7bhouses a coiled spring Si) having one end bearing against the washer 49and its opposite end against an adjusting bushing l having threadedengagement with the adjacent wall of the cylindrical portion 1lb. Thebushing 51 has a central opening 52 so that the compartment ll'ib willbe at the same pressure as the surrounding medium and subject theassociated side of the diaphragm 45 thereto. An operative connection isobtained between the diaphragm 4S and valve 42 by means of a push rod53, one end of the push rod bearing against the plate member 46, and theother end of the rod bearing against the seating end of the valve ft2.Thus, the regulating eiiect of the valve 4t2 is controlled in responseto differential pressures acting on the diaphragm 45, and as controlledby the pressure of the surrounding medium.

As shown in FIG. 3, the body structure 1t) is provided with anotherconnection port which is physically positioned adjacent the connectionport 21 and is shown as being closed by a plug 54. This connection portcommunicates through a restricted passageway (not shown) with theinterior of chamber 16. Removal of the plug 54 permits this port to beconnected with a pressure gauge for indicating bottle Huid pressure.

Referring again to FIG. 2 the cylindrical body portion 11 contains anintegral outwardly projecting arm portion 55 which cooperates with thebody portion 11 to form a housing for the reserve valve mechanism whichwill now be described.

The passageway 35, as it leaves the fluid inlet port 36, enters achamber 56 through a valve seat 57, and thence communicates with thehigh pressure chamber 16. The valve seat 57 is operatively associatedwith a valve member 58 reciprocably movable in the chamber 56, the valvemember including a stem 59 which is reciprocably mounted within abearing member 60. The valve member S8 has a valve washer 61 adapted tobe positioned in seated and unseated relation with respect to the valveseat 5T The valve member 58 is normally biased towards seated positionby means of a compression spring 62 having one end in engagement withthe valve member and its other end in engagement with the bearingmember.

The outermost end of the stem 59 projects beyond the bearing member 60and is swivelly connected with a cam member 63. The cam member has theform of a substantially rectangular block having a V-shaped edge 64arranged to seat in one position of the cam in a 'V-groove 65 in theadjacent face of the bearing member 60. In this position of the cam, thevalve member 58 may be moved into a seating position with respect to theseat 57 by the action of the compression spring 62. Upon rotation of thecam member 63 through an angle of 90, the `V-shaped edge 64 is adaptedto seat in a shallow V-groove 66 which serves as a detent to releasablyretain the cam in this position. It will be observed that in moving thecam to carry the V-shaped edge 64 from the deeper `V-groove 65 to theshallow V-groove 66 will move the cam outwardly. This action moves thestem 59 so as to carry the valve member S8 to unseated position againstthe action of the compression spring 62. In the unseated position, thechamber 16 is conneced with the inlet port 36. Under normal operation ofthe reserve valve, the cam will be positioned with the `tl-shaped edge64 disposed in the V- groove 65. The compression spring 62 is soconstructed as to spring load the valve, but permits its opening under apredetermined fluid pressure, for example, 300 p.s.i. Thus,

as long as the tank or associated shutoi valve is open and the tankpressure is above 300 p.s.i., the reserve valve 58 will remain open soas to supply fluid from inlet port 36.

However, as soon as the fluid pressure falls below the predeterminedpressure, the reserve valve 58 closes to disconnect the supply of uid.It is then necessary, in order to reestablish the supply to the chamber56 at the lower pressure, to rotate the cam member 63 to the position inwhich the V-shaped edge 64 will be disposed in the V- groove 66.

Provision is made for rotating the cam member 63 by providing an arm 67which is rotatably supported within a seal nut 68 mounted in the outerend of the body arm portion 55. The inner end of the arm 67 is forked toprovide spaced arms 69 and 70 for straddling the cam member 63 andpermit sliding movement of the cam therebetween as the arm 67 isrotated. The outermost end of the arm 67 is fitted with a manuallyoperable lever arm 7l or other suitable manually operable means such asa knob. rl`he arm, knob or other means is arranged with a stop pin 72which is movable between a pair of abutment projection 73 formed on theadjacent end of the body arm portion 55, these projections being inrelation so as to terminate the movement of the cam member 63 at thepositions wherein the V-shaped edge 64 will be respectively seated inthe V-groove 65 and V-groove 66. The outer end of the lever arm 71 hasan opening 74 whereby a rod may have its end coupled to the lever arm soas to facilitate operation of the reserve valve from a position removedfrom the lever arm.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the speciiic form shownor uses mentioned,except to the extent indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

A pressure regulator and reserve valve mechanism unit for underwaterbreathing apparatus, comprising:

(A) an elongate generally tubular body structure;

(B) a transverse partition between the body ends separating thestructure into compartments,

(a) one of said compartments having an inlet connection for fluid underpressure, and an access closure member at the bottom end of said bodystructure,

(b) and the other having a connection with the exterior of saidstructure;

(C) an outlet fluid flow passageway in said partition extendingtransversely to the axis of said structure. and having connections onopposite sides of said body structure at its respective ends for a uidyconductor,

(a) said passageway having communication with each of said compartments;

(D) a valve seat in said one of said compartments;

(E) valve means wholly contained within said one of said compartmentsincluding a valve member and spring biasing it towards said seat tocontrol the communication to said one of said compartments, said valveand spring being accessible and removable through said access by removalof said closure member;

(F) a diaphragm in the other of said compartments subjected on one sideto external pressure and on its other to pressure in said passageway;

(G) a push rod connecting said diaphragm and the valve member;

(H) spring means normally biasing said diaphragm in a direction tendingto move said valve away from said seat;

(I) reserve valve means extending generally at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of said body structure for controlling iiow throughsaid inlet connection for iluid under pressure to said one of saidReferences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS PaascheApr. 16, 1946 Morrison Apr. 14, 1953 Cupp Sept. 25, 1956 Senesky Nov.18, 1958 Hagger Oct. 4, 1960 Kimes Jan. 30, 1962

